Date set for final approval of canonisation of Blesseds Paul VI and Romero

The Vatican announced that final approval would be given May 19 for the canonisations of Blesseds Paul VI, Archbishop Oscar Romero and four others.

Pope Francis already cleared the way for their canonisations earlier this year with the publication of decrees recognising a miracle attributed to the intercession of each one of the blesseds.

The Vatican said May 3 that an “ordinary public consistory” – a meeting of the Pope with cardinals resident in Rome and invited bishops and other dignitaries – would be held on May 19 to finalise the approval of six canonisations. This meeting of cardinals and promoters of the sainthood causes formally ends the process of approving a new saint.

The dates and locations for the canonisation ceremonies are expected to be announced shortly after the consistory.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has said that Blessed Paul’s canonisation will take place at the end of the Synod of Bishops on youth and discernment, scheduled for October 3 to 28.

The other men and women to be canonised include: Fr Francesco Spinelli of Italy, founder of the Sisters Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament; Fr Vincenzo Romano, who worked with the poor of Naples, Italy, until his death in 1831; Mother Catherine Kasper, the German founder of the religious congregation, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ; and Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa, the Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Crusaders of the Church.